JENNIFER QUICK

Thesis: Naiad Press' Contributions to Preserving Lesbian History: A Case Study (Anticipated Completion: Fall 2022)

Thesis Director:  Dr. Donna Nudd, School of Communication

"The Honors in the Major Program has allowed me to expand my research far greater than I would have ever imagined it. As a student who is pursuing a dual degree in Media/Communication studies and Editing, Writing, and Media, I have a passion for learning about mass media, especially that of the LGBTQ+ community that I am a part of. I am pursuing my thesis in the Communications department under the guidance of Dr. Donna Nudd. My thesis revolves around the social construction of White lesbian identity in the lesbian publishing company Naiad Press, with a specific focus on the novel Faultline, a novel by Chicana lesbian author and retired Florida State University professor, Sheila Ortiz Taylor. Oral histories will also be used to supplement research. This research aims to acknowledge the historic achievements of LGBTQ+ publishing, while still acknowledging how lesbianism was strongly tied to the White experience.

With the support of the Bess H. Ward Honors Thesis Award, I have gathered a collection of novels published under lesbian publishing companies. I will be able to gain a better understanding of how lesbian identity was constructed at Naiad Press, as well as how lesbian of color presses critiqued mainstream lesbian publishing. I am honored to be able to receive such an award for my research. I want to thank my thesis director, Dr. Michael Franklin, and the generous donors and selection committee for encouraging me to apply for funding. This research award has encouraged me to take my research further in graduate school at Florida State University. With all the support, I have learned to always be curious. History is everywhere. I am so honored to be able to celebrate the legacies of LGBTQ+ culture with the generous support of this award."

-Jennifer Quick, Fall 2021 Bess H. Ward Thesis Award Winner